REACH

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have added another ten substances for authorization to the Candidate List. These substances, which are used in applications with potential worker exposure, have been classified as carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction.

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), in partnership with the industriALL-European Trade Union, have begun an information campaign to call attention to the obligations companies in the European Union have under REACH, the EU's regulation on chemicals.

Although they play a major factor in the chemical supply chain, chemical distributors are often responsible for not only the distribution of chemicals, but also provide additional services such as repackaging, mixing, compounding and blending. As a result, chemical distribution companies are affected by REACH and CLP, along with any other regulatory requirements.

At midnight May 31, 2013, the REACH deadline was reached for registering substances manufactured or imported with quantities between 100 and 1,000 tons per year. However, the deadline for those who fall in the higher range were obligated to register by December 1, 2010. The ECHA received 9,084 registration dossiers from 3,215 companies, of which 80% were submitted by large companies; 23% were made on behalf of non-European companies.